Database Users

[Q] help me understand the root world a little more

I'm trying to learn more about the S5 root world. I am currently running the OTA NHA build, and am rooted using towelroot, and have the latest safestrap installed (also have supersu and busybox). What i am trying to understand is how the custom rom's work now. I just got the S4, and never had my bootloader locked since i rooted/rom'd earlier on and never ran stock, and i was using TWRP so there were no rom slots or the like; you downloaded a rom, wiped your phone, flashed it, done.
This bootloader/kernel/baseband talk is what's confusing me. A question that i've been trying to find the answer for is as such: let's say i have my NHA rooted phone, but there is an NE9 rom on the forum i want to try (extreme syndicate/alliance). Can i just flash that to a rom slot and go, or do i flash the kernel as well? if i flash the kernel, won't that mess with my stock rom, or does that just patch the kernel inside of the rom slot?
I already understand that chronologically, the baseband/build versions are NCG>NE9>NHA>NI2, so understand that rom's baseband is a version behind NHA. Someone please help clarify some of this for me

[Q] Do I need to upgrade bootloader before installing custom rom?

Hi there,
just got my hands on this international Note 3 and looking to root it and install a custom rom. I think I got all the information and softwares on how to root and flash custom recovery. but I'm just not sure if I need to upgrade my bootloader before flashing a custom rom? I don't even know what bootloader i'm on. but I do know that I'm still on 4.3 stock.
please let me know of anything that I need to do before flashing a custom rom.
thanks so much!

slamming_sammy1 said:
Hi there,
just got my hands on this international Note 3 and looking to root it and install a custom rom. I think I got all the information and softwares on how to root and flash custom recovery. but I'm just not sure if I need to upgrade my bootloader before flashing a custom rom? I don't even know what bootloader i'm on. but I do know that I'm still on 4.3 stock.
please let me know of anything that I need to do before flashing a custom rom.
thanks so much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first step, flash with odin stock KK rom to have good bootloader, after root and put recovery you want and don't preoccupate anymore bootloader and flash custom rom or not...

rayman95 said:
first step, flash with odin stock KK rom to have good bootloader, after root and put recovery you want and don't preoccupate anymore bootloader and flash custom rom or not...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok thank you!
I tried using kies to upgrade to 4.4 as i figured that would be the easiest way, but keep getting an error, so I do need to flash stock using odin. but I'm so confused as to which one to download. right now when I fire up kies, it shows this:
current firmware version: PDA:MJ7 /PHONE:MJ7 /CSC:MJ6 (ZTO)
Latest firmware version: PDA:NG3 / PHONE:NG2 / CSC:NG3 (ZTO)
can someone let me know which firmware I need to download from sammobile.com?
thanks so much.

oh please disregard. I didn't know sammobile.com had a place where we can search by country, etc. it's really cool. so I found what I needed.
thank you.

I was able to do an OTA update, so now I'm on kitkat 4.4; so my question is, now do I need to do anything for preparation in order to root?
thanks.

nothing to do
flash cf auto root and you re done...

thank you! you guys are great!

[Q] Firmware - ROM Question

So I have a GS5 on KitKat running NI2 Firmware and Build. I Flashed Ricks ROM and am loving it! Big ups to the Dev on that. However, the whole reason that I Rooted my phone was to try out custom ROMs and my question is if I wanted allianceROM on my phone, I'm currently on Ni2 instead of Ne9. Could I only change the firmware and not the entire build to Ne9 and then flash the AllianceROM? I know after all these years, I should know this by now however, I just waited for in this case an Ni2 rom build to be released then flash it. Is there a way to try any of the builds within kitkat?
I know that the phone needs an update to try Lolipop, but not willing to give up on my perfectly running kitkat Rom (just yet)
Any help is very much appriciated!

mrneoz81 said:
So I have a GS5 on KitKat running NI2 Firmware and Build. I Flashed Ricks ROM and am loving it! Big ups to the Dev on that. However, the whole reason that I Rooted my phone was to try out custom ROMs and my question is if I wanted allianceROM on my phone, I'm currently on Ni2 instead of Ne9. Could I only change the firmware and not the entire build to Ne9 and then flash the AllianceROM? I know after all these years, I should know this by now however, I just waited for in this case an Ni2 rom build to be released then flash it. Is there a way to try any of the builds within kitkat?
I know that the phone needs an update to try Lolipop, but not willing to give up on my perfectly running kitkat Rom (just yet)
Any help is very much appriciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin the NE9 firmware, boot into safestrap recovery before your phone boots all the way up, then install the NE9 ROM ( which should already be downloaded onto your phone). Don't forget to wipe first.

[N910F] Downgrade from POF2 to ANK5?

Is it possible to downgrade the N910F from Lollipop (POF2) to KitKat (ANK5)?
YES, IT IS POSSIBLE.
Before yesterday I've never used KitKat on my Note4.. When I bought the phone I had no time to try it (KitKat) because I've straight rooted it and flashed a Lollipop based ROM.
Then yesterday I wanted to try a KitKat based ROM and I've lost about 30/40min looking in the forum for the answer to the question Is it possible to downgrade the N910F from Lollipop (POF2 or whatever) to KitKat (ANK5)?
I could not find a proper answer.. there was this BOF5 bootloader can not be downgraded but it was always in a "strange contest" and it did not convinced me.. after 30/40min I said ***k *t and I just performed a full wipe from TWRP, flashed ANK5 modem and bootloader via ODIN, and installed the KitKat ROM from TWRP.
Sorry for the Question/Answer but this thread may will help someone to save time.
P.S.: My KitKat adventure lasted only 10min... It looked ugly to my eyes! Went back on POF2 and now trying out AICP

_mone said:
Is it possible to downgrade the N910F from Lollipop (POF2) to KitKat (ANK5)?
YES, IT IS POSSIBLE.
Before yesterday I've never used KitKat on my Note4.. When I bought the phone I had no time to try it (KitKat) because I've straight rooted it and flashed a Lollipop based ROM.
Then yesterday I wanted to try a KitKat based ROM and I've lost about 30/40min looking in the forum for the answer to the question Is it possible to downgrade the N910F from Lollipop (POF2 or whatever) to KitKat (ANK5)?
I could not find a proper answer.. there was this BOF5 bootloader can not be downgraded but it was always in a "strange contest" and it did not convinced me.. after 30/40min I said ***k *t and I just performed a full wipe from TWRP, flashed ANK5 modem and bootloader via ODIN, and installed the KitKat ROM from TWRP.
Sorry for the Question/Answer but this thread may will help someone to save time.
P.S.: My KitKat adventure lasted only 10min... It looked ugly to my eyes! Went back on POF2 and now trying out AICP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you flashed that lollipop-based rom, that was a custom rom I assume? Did it contain a bootloader? Maybe you were still on the KitKat bootloader.

GidiK said:
When you flashed that lollipop-based rom, that was a custom rom I assume? Did it contain a bootloader? Maybe you were still on the KitKat bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it was a custom ROM. No, it didn't contain bootloader. No, I wasn't on the KitKat bootloader, for sure my bootloader was POF2. Trust me if I tell you that before the KitKat ROM I've flashed too many Lollipop ROMs with many Lollipop bootloaders.

I'm trying to do this but i fail in every action at odin with this SW rev. check fail. device 2 binary 1 in my SM-N910C and in odin its fail... ( i gets this after recovering my phone at kies after a bootloop )

i have a note 4 n910c with L.P 5.1.1 how a can downgrade to K.K or 5.01 L.P always fail when i try with odin. help please

Can you downgrade directly from marshmallow to kit Kat?

I'm on Phoenix rom on 6.0. 1 and I'm sick of the weird path name it gives the external SD card. It messes with link2sd and my Manga Reader. I was wondering if I can simply flash a kit Kat rom on miui without ruining anything...

no

So I'll have to go back to stock first via Odin?

raylgo said:
So I'll have to go back to stock first via Odin?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you cant do that either. Once you progress past 5.0, youre stuck

I directly downgraded to 4.4 with my G900W8. However, you need to be careful with which version you are going to flash. For example, when I flashed any other 4.4 firmware than NCG (Which is the first version of 4.4 released for G900W8), I faced bootloop.

panda6024 said:
I directly downgraded to 4.4 with my G900W8. However, you need to be careful with which version you are going to flash. For example, when I flashed any other 4.4 firmware than NCG (Which is the first version of 4.4 released for G900W8), I faced bootloop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is a physical fuse that gets tripped in the S5 once you go past 5.0 that is there to no allow you to go back. Not sure if you were on a 4.4 bootloader that allowed you to do this or what, but trying to flash back to 4.4 after being on a 5.0 baseband is very ill advised

I don't think you can down grade to kit kat, but you can go from marshmallow to lollipop. I just did it last weekend. Check this...https://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/root-method-og5-ok3-t3290370
I hope it helps you.

Actually i can downgrade anytime from MM to LP or LP to KK
but i didnt tried MM to KK yet.... tried it many times it works.. unlocked G900F
Edit: im talking about stock rom btw (from sammobile)

dotgeo said:
Actually i can downgrade anytime from MM to LP or LP to KK
but i didnt tried MM to KK yet.... tried it many times it works.. unlocked G900F
Edit: im talking about stock rom btw (from sammobile)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then you dont have a MM bootloader. I just re-read some posts that confirm that the phone locks to 5.0 once you get that bootloader. Its not possible to go back, and it doesnt matter if you have the G900F or not

youdoofus said:
there is a physical fuse that gets tripped in the S5 once you go past 5.0 that is there to no allow you to go back. Not sure if you were on a 4.4 bootloader that allowed you to do this or what, but trying to flash back to 4.4 after being on a 5.0 baseband is very ill advised
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then if there is a physical fuse, why was I able to downgrade from MM to KK? One difference when I downgraded from MM to KK NCG was that "Powered by Android" logo was changed to old style. I think NCG build of KitKat changed bootloader from MM one to KK one. Baseband wise, I also flashed KK baseband and it worked very well. It might be different on G900F but with my G900W8 I could go back to KK.

panda6024 said:
Then if there is a physical fuse, why was I able to downgrade from MM to KK? One difference when I downgraded from MM to KK NCG was that "Powered by Android" logo was changed to old style. I think NCG build of KitKat changed bootloader from MM one to KK one. Baseband wise, I also flashed KK baseband and it worked very well. It might be different on G900F but with my G900W8 I could go back to KK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not sure, but ive had my G900P for 2 years 10 months and have been constantly on XDA since my OG evo back in the day (the one with the kickstand) and everything ive ever read saya that once you go past 5.0, you cant go back. Not sure what you have going on there, but there are tons of posts going back several years stating exactly this

Of course you can downgrade to kk.
Just download the kk firmwafe. Pull out battery for 5 sec. Then flash trough odin. Did it mant times and no problem with that.

i did that on my galaxy s5 and it works